Named after the French word for ‘little wheel,’ roulette is a casino game that is believed to have originated from the Italian game Biribi. In roulette, players can choose to bet on a single number, several groups of numbers, the colours red or black, odd or even numbers or on whether the number they land on will be high (19-36) or low (1-18). The game is decided by spinning a ball in the opposite direction of a roulette wheel around a tilted circular track around the outer edge of the wheel. As the ball slows down, it passes through an area of deflectors and rolls into one of 37 (in Europe) or 38 (in America) coloured slots. Winnings are then paid out to each player who has placed a successful bet on that particular spin.
Understanding Roulette
If you have never played before, it might seem like there's a lot more to a roulette game than meets the eye. While this is true to an extent, it’s easy to understand the nuances of this form of gambling by taking the time to understand basic probabilities. Before we get into roulette strategies, let’s glance over some of the variants of the game.
Roulette Variants
Today, roulette is played with two main variations: European and American. The two systems of play are almost identical, except for the addition of a double zero in the American version. While this may seem insignificant, a second zero on the wheel can significantly hinder the odds of winning, making it even more crucial to pick the right roulette strategy to play with.
Roulette Payouts
In roulette, the payout odds for winnings bets can be as high as 35:1.Here are some common
payout odds in a game of American Roulette:
- Single number - 35:1
- Two connected numbers - 17:1
- Three vertically connected numbers - 11:1
- Four numbers forming a square - 8:1
- Line of 12 numbers - 2:1
As you can see from the table above, the odds of winning a roulette game are directly proportionate to how many numbers you choose to wager on. A small selection of numbers gives you the maximum potential reward at a higher risk, while lower-risk bets are safer to play and offer smaller payouts in comparison.
What are the most popular Roulette bets?
Roulette wagers are divided into outside bets offering higher chances of winning and smaller rewards, and inside bets offering high rewards and smaller chances of winning. Outside bets will only pay you 1:1 to double your initial wager.
Some common outside bet types include Odd or Even, where you can bet on where you think the ball will land; Red or Black, indicating the colour on the wheel and Low or High, where you bet on whether the ball will fall on 1-18 or 19-36. Some other outside bet types include columns and dozens, which offer payouts of 2:1.
Inside bets in roulette include the Corner, which is made of four numbers that are touching and offers a payout of 8:1, the Street, which covers three numbers in a horizontal row with a payout of 11:1 and the Split, which allows you to bet on two numbers in the same spin. The payout on Splits is 17:1.
Even money bet
Even money bets are probably the most popular bets in roulette. Even money bets are categorized under outside bets as the probability of winning is nearly 1:1, ignoring the zero on the wheel. In this bet type, you can choose between all red numbers and all black numbers and wager, accordingly.
Straight-up bet
The straight-up is the bet with the single highest payout in roulette at 35:1. In this bet type, you will wager on just one number during a roll.
The most popular roulette strategies
There’s plenty of debate around the best roulette strategy. While each of these strategies has its merits, there are some important factors to keep in mind before you start betting.
The Martingale
The Martingale System is one of the most commonly used roulette strategies in the world and is not exclusive to poker. In this system, you choose a minimum bet and double it if you lose or bet the same amount again if you win.
Reverse Martingale
As the name suggests, the reverse Martingale employs doubling your bets in the opposite direction, but with a twist. You double your bet when you win and revert back to your initial wager when you lose.
Fibonacci Sequence
In a Fibonacci sequence, you get the number or stake by adding the two previous numbers together. For example, 0-1-1-2-3-5-8-13-21 and so on. (2+3 (5), 3+5 (8), etc.) Using this on the roulette wheel, you can bet the next number in the sequence every time you win and reset back to the start of the sequence if you lose.
D’Alembert
You could think of the D’Alembert system as the Martingale with a twist. Unlike the Martingale, when you lose while employing this strategy, you drop down by one instead of resetting all the way back to your initial wager.
Labouchère
Also known as the split Martingale or cancellation system, the Labouchère system involves determining how much you would like to win beforehand. Then, you must add down a list of positive numbers that add up to the desired amount.
With each bet, the stake equals the sum of the first and last numbers on the list. If the bet wins, the two amounts are removed from the list. If the bet loses, the lost amount is added to the end of the list. The process continues until the list is completely exhausted or until the bankroll is spent.
James Bond
The James Bond is a combination bet method where you will have to wager three different bets each time. Let’s say your bankroll for each attempt is $20. On your first attempt, you would wager $14 on the high numbers (19 to 36). Next, you would put $5 on an inside bet and put the last $1 on zero. This technique aims to cover more possible outcomes than by using the other systems.
Finding your roulette strategy
By using the right combination of strategies and approaches, you will eventually be able to find one that works for you with enough practice. You can visit theScore Bet to find roulette games and discover new online roulette strategies.
Play roulette with theScore Bet
Here at theScore Bet, we have everything you need to enjoy online roulette games within a safe environment. We boast a well-designed bet app, a long-standing industry reputation, legitimate licensing and a generous welcome bonus.
Here's a glimpse of some of the roulette games that you can enjoy on theScore Bet:
First Person Roulette
First Person Roulette places you in the thick of the action and allows you to virtually recreate the experience of betting at a casino. First-person games can act as an ideal starting point to test out new roulette strategies.
Lightning Roulette
Lightning Roulette adds an electrifying twist to the classic casino game, with random lightning strikes boosting the potential payouts and creating a more unique gambling experience.
American Roulette
American Roulette on theScore Bet captures the essence of a land-based casino, providing an immersive virtual experience where you can enjoy the iconic double zero wheel and engage in the excitement and strategy of this popular game of chance.